Portable feed-trough



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Sept. 21,1897.

WITNESSES v ATT YS,

1m: nouns min on mama. wasmm'rou. a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM M. IIORNBEOK, OF DEER CREEK, INDIANA.

PORTABLE FEED-TROUGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,397, dated September 21 1897.

Application filed November 5, 1896. Serial No. 611,174=. (N0 model.)

T0 at whom it may concern..-

Beit known that 1, WILLIAM M. HORNBECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deer Creek, in the county of Carroll and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Feed- Troughs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to feeding-troughs; audit consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangements of-parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, made a part hereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a feeding apparatus which Will accommodate several difierent varieties of food and discharge the same in regulated predetermined quantities, as may be required from time to time by the needs of the stock.

A further object is to safely house the food thus provided and protect the same from the weather and against misappropriation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my portable feeding apparatus ready for use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, showing the roof removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 on line A A. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of Fig. 1 on line B B.

In materializing my invention I provide the body-section or housing 1, which may be separated into any desired number of compartments, though I prefer to erect one central longitudinal partition 2, extending upward to nearly the same height as the outer walls and having hinged thereto the inclined lids 3. By thus forming the central partition 2 so that it will have a less vertical reach than the outer walls 1 the lid hinged thereto would be adapted to reach against a cheat-4, secured at the upper edge of said wall, permitting said lid to rest in an inclined position, thus forming a chute or guideway into the opposite compartment, by means of which the food-supply is introduced.

The body-section 1 is supported by the posts 4 and by such means held slightly above the base 5, and as said body is not provided with a bottom thecontents Will rest upon thebase, and in order that the same may be directed toward the outer edges of said base I provide the conical floor 6.

The base 5 extends slightly beyond the housing or body 1 and is provided with the edge wall or rim 7, adapted to prevent the contents from dropping to the ground, and, further, to provide a trough-like receptacle from which the stock may feed.

The trough thus formed may be separated into various compartment, as shown, by the partitions 8, thusproviding that the different varieties of food may be kept separate.

In order to regulate the quantity of feed entering the trough, I provide the series of gates 9, which are mounted on the outer sides of the body in suitable ways 10, as shown, and by this construction said gates are adapted to be moved vertically into the desired position or may be dropped entirely down upon the floor and thus prevent the exit of the feed. By this arrangement access to the contents of the body may be entirely out off when it is desired to move the trough from place to place.

I prefer to form the body with gable ends adapted to receive and support a suitable roof, which may be form ed of ready and cheap construction.

In order to provide means for gaining access to the interior of the'body for the introduction of feed, I provide in the roof a door 11, preferably disposed in the central section thereof and provided with the hinges 12 and the locking-clasp 13, by which the contents may be secured against unauthorized use.

The base 5 may be mounted upon runners where a cheap and efficient construction is desired, or a truck may be substituted therefor, if preferred.

By the construction and arrangement of parts herein set forth it Will be seen that I have provided a secure housing for the protection of feed-supplies in combination with features rendering the device an automatic feeder, and, further, that the apparatus may be readily moved from different parts of the field as the exigencies of the case require.

By providing the inclination for the lids or covers 3 it will be seen that a chute is provided for the interior compartment, making it possible to readily introduce the feecLsupply.

The operation of my portable feeding apparatus may be described as follows-that is to say, the feed is introduced into the desired compartment through the door 11 when said door is secured in a locked position and the several gates elevated to the desired height, which will permit the proper quantity .of feed to pass under them into the troughs formed by the rim 7. By this arrangement full access may be given to the contents, or said contents may be directed therefrom in very limited quantities.

Believing that the advantages and construction of my portable feeding apparatus will be made fully apparent by the foregoing description further reference is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

ing lids or wings hinged to its upper edge, each wing being adapted to swing in opposite directions, whereby the food is directed to any desired compartment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WVILLIAM M. HORNBEOK. Witnesses:

GEORGE T. SEWARD, GILES P. I-IoPKINs. 

